Like a large number of fellow statisticians I have often been pained at the absence of a statistical annual, which could give a clear view of the domestic cricket in India season after season. It is very easy to tell who has scored maximum runs in English County Cricket. Pick the latest Wisden or go to Cricinfo record section and you have the answer in seconds. But nowhere you will get the answer as to who has scored the maximum runs in Indian first class cricket or for that matter who has effected most dismissals behind the stumps. Wisden does not have separate statistical section for Indian first-class cricket and Cricinfo’s record section on Indian domestic cricket is a farce. That Cricinfo carries a list of batsmen with highest run-aggregate in Ranji Trophy updated only upto 1998-99 season is a shame in itself.
It is not that there is no cricket annual being published in India. There are two of them. BCCI publishes their own statistical annuals, but what is the purpose behind publishing it, only they can tell. A bulky volume, containing more pages than the Wisden Almanack and almost one and a half time bigger in height, it does not cost a single penny. The Board makes it available free of cost. But the sad part is, it is not made available in the open market, so it is beyond the reach of any cricket-lover. One can get a copy only if he has his links in the BCCI office or state associations [who get two copies each]. It would have made much sense if this annual was made available in the open market after putting a price-tag on it, but then you can not expect these things from BCCI.
Hindu group must be praised for publishing Indian Cricket Annual year after year at an unbelievable low price. Very rich on contents part, this annual offers very little on statistical front. Moreover the editorial staff is not even ready to listen to suggestions for improvement. The scorecards do not carry the essential information like second innings batting order, fall of wicket details, information about debutants etc. The different statistical section normally runs in to dozen of pages, but not always covering all parts of the game. For example, batting records will cover the minute details of every batsmen who has scored 500 or more runs in a Ranji season, but one will not find the best allround performances in a match.
The only Indian annual worthy of being called a statistical annual that I have seen is ACSSI [Association of Cricket Scorers & Statisticians of India] Statistical Annual. The annual compiled and edited by Mohandas Menon carried almost everything one could wish for. But the Association has had its own problems and could not publish any annual since 1990-91.
A consistent cajoling from me has however succeeded in the revival of the annual. I have taken the responsibility of compiling and editing the 2004-05 edition and if everything goes according to the plans, the annual will become a regular feature. Hopefully we will have the feats in domestic cricket properly recognized and suitably penned down.
Anyone, who is interested in contributing in this annual, may contact me at annual2005@gmail.com. All contributions will be properly acknowledged and the contributor will get a complimentary copy [I will personally make sure it is done]. But please send only the original research and the stuff not readily available elsewhere.
It is not that there is no cricket annual being published in India. There are two of them. BCCI publishes their own statistical annuals, but what is the purpose behind publishing it, only they can tell. A bulky volume, containing more pages than the Wisden Almanack and almost one and a half time bigger in height, it does not cost a single penny. The Board makes it available free of cost. But the sad part is, it is not made available in the open market, so it is beyond the reach of any cricket-lover. One can get a copy only if he has his links in the BCCI office or state associations [who get two copies each]. It would have made much sense if this annual was made available in the open market after putting a price-tag on it, but then you can not expect these things from BCCI.
Hindu group must be praised for publishing Indian Cricket Annual year after year at an unbelievable low price. Very rich on contents part, this annual offers very little on statistical front. Moreover the editorial staff is not even ready to listen to suggestions for improvement. The scorecards do not carry the essential information like second innings batting order, fall of wicket details, information about debutants etc. The different statistical section normally runs in to dozen of pages, but not always covering all parts of the game. For example, batting records will cover the minute details of every batsmen who has scored 500 or more runs in a Ranji season, but one will not find the best allround performances in a match.
The only Indian annual worthy of being called a statistical annual that I have seen is ACSSI [Association of Cricket Scorers & Statisticians of India] Statistical Annual. The annual compiled and edited by Mohandas Menon carried almost everything one could wish for. But the Association has had its own problems and could not publish any annual since 1990-91.
A consistent cajoling from me has however succeeded in the revival of the annual. I have taken the responsibility of compiling and editing the 2004-05 edition and if everything goes according to the plans, the annual will become a regular feature. Hopefully we will have the feats in domestic cricket properly recognized and suitably penned down.
Anyone, who is interested in contributing in this annual, may contact me at annual2005@gmail.com. All contributions will be properly acknowledged and the contributor will get a complimentary copy [I will personally make sure it is done]. But please send only the original research and the stuff not readily available elsewhere.
